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April School Holidays: General Nerdery!

Stephen Clothier

The April school holidays are only two weeks away! This year, Wellington City Libraries is inviting you to join us for General Nerdery all through the holiday period, from the 17th of April to the 2nd of May.

Everyone has something they’re nerdy about, our librarians included. For some, it’s tech-y stuff like robots and VR that get them going; for others, it might be comic books or movies; some of the more adventurous among us don armour, shield and sword for fantasy adventures in games like Dungeons and Dragons. Whatever you get nerdy about, there’s something for you at your local library during the April school holidays! If you’re a bit older, don’t worry — there’s plenty on for teens too. Click here for the lowdown on what’s on for teens! If you want to see the entire event calendar, click here. If you’re a kid — read on!

Child wearing denim dungarees and a makeshift visor with a cardboard jetpack standing next to a cardboard robot, surrounded by images of planets, aliens, and stars. Text: "Join us this school holidays for General Nerdery, 17 April to 2 May"

Join us for nerdy events you can really sink your teeth into!

Board Game Builders

Whether you’ve been dreaming up your own version of Snakes and Ladders, or have a whole new tabletop game world in mind, this event is for you! Join us at Te Awe Library to learn about how your can use our special templates to build your own custom board game that you can then take home and play with your friends and family! All materials will be supplied.

Board Games Builders is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Friday 23 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

City Nature Challenge: Wellington Bioblitz!

Throughout the holidays, people from all over the world are participating in the City Nature Challenge! Wellington is teeming with wildlife, from the mountains to the sea. You can get involved in the City Nature Challenge Wellington Bioblitz using the iNaturalist app — just take a picture of a plant or animal you find and upload it to the app! Click here to join in on the fun, and don’t forget to pick up a special City Nature Challenge activity sheet from your local library during the holidays.

Crazy Collages

Have you ever looked at an old book or magazine and thought, “This would really look a lot better if I tore it apart and made it into art?” We have, too! Come along to Te Awe Library and join our librarians in repurposing some old magazines into beautiful works of art that you can be proud of.

Crazy Collages is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Wednesday 28 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

El’s Party!

To celebrate the end of the school holidays, you are invited to a special party right here in the library! Do you want to play party games? Do you enjoy dance and song? Then grab your brown-up, bring them to Te Awe Library, and be prepared to have entirely too much fun with El, our very own party librarian!

El’s Party is perfect for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Thursday 29 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

Embroider Your Own Patch

Join us at Johnsonville Library during the school holidays to learn how to embroider your own patch that you can sew onto your clothes, schoolbag, or jacket! Wear your nerdy finery with pride and chill with like-minded folks in the library while picking up a new skill. Materials will be provided, and registrations are not required.

Embroider Your Own Patch is suitable for children aged 9+ with their caregivers.

  • Johnsonville Library, Tuesday 20 April, 2.00 – 5.00pm
  • Johnsonville Library, Tuesday 27 April, 2.00 – 5.00pm

Experience VR

Virtual reality (VR) offers us a new and exciting way to learn about and experience the world around us. From 3D painting and virtual sculpting to exploring some of the world’s most extreme locations, this is your opportunity to experience VR from the safety and comfort of your local library.

Experience VR! is suitable for children aged 9+ accompanied by their caregivers, and teens of all ages.

  • Karori Library, Tuesday 20 April, 3.30 – 4.30pm
  • Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library, Thursday 29 April, 3.30 – 4.30pm

Family Movie Afternoon

Bring a cushion and a bottle of water and relax at our FREE, fun family movie afternoons — popcorn will be supplied! All movies chosen will have a G rating, and are suitable for families with young children. Contact the host library to find out which movies are screening!

Family Movie Afternoons are suitable for children of all ages with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Monday 19 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm
  • Karori Library, Wednesday 28 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm
  • Te Awe Library, Friday 30 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

Fort Night

Fancy yourself a builder, engineer, architect, or artist? Join us at Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library to put your skills to the test by helping us turn the library’s children’s and teens sections into a magnificent, interconnected box fort! Drop in and have a go, or stay for the whole time and watch your masterpiece take shape, from foundation to parapet.

Fort Night is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers, and teens of all ages.

  • Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, Thursday 22 April, 4.00 – 6.00pm
  • Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library, Thursday 29 April, 4.00 – 6.00pm

LEGO® Time

Come down to the library and get creative in these free-build sessions with our extensive LEGO® collections. Builders of all ages and experience levels are welcome to get stuck in.

LEGO® Time is suitable for children aged 5+ and their caregivers, and everyone is welcome.

  • Te Awe Library, Sunday 18 April, 11.00am – 12.00pm
  • Te Awe Library, Thursday 22 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm
  • Te Awe Library, Tuesday 27 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm
  • Te Awe Library, Sunday 2 May, 11.00am – 12.00pm

Let’s Go LEGO®

Let’s build — let’s explore — let’s create! Come along to your local library to create your LEGO® masterpiece. At Let’s Go LEGO® your brickish nerdery will be put to the test as you work your way through our special themed challenges.

Let’s Go LEGO® is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Karori Library, Saturday 17 April, 2.00 – 3.00pm
  • Newtown Library, Monday 19 April, 3.30 – 4.30pm
  • Brooklyn Library, Tuesday 20 April, 2 – 3:30pm
  • Miramar Library, Thursday 22 April, 3.30 – 4.30pm

Plus, come along for a special ‘under the sea’ themed LEGO® building session at Wadestown Library:

  • Wadestown Library, Wednesday 21 April, 3.00 – 5.00pm

Meet the Robots

Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a robot? Join us at Te Awe Library to meet some of our resident library robots, find out how they work, and then try your hand at programming them! No prior coding knowledge is required.

Meet the Robots is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Wednesday 21 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

Myths and Music

The magic of storytelling takes many forms, and myths and legends in many parts of the world have often been told through music. Join our librarians for a musical journey through Celtic and Maori mythology — and be prepared to make some noise of your own!

Myths and Music is suitable for children of all ages with their caregivers.

  • Johnsonville Library, Friday 23 April, 3.00 – 4.00pm
  • Johnsonville Library, Friday 30 April, 3.00 – 4.00pm

Nature Heroes: Board Game Creation Workshop

Johnsonville Library is excited to work with VIVITA Aotearoa to bring this VIVISTOP Mini pop-up programme to the library. During this 5-day workshop, you will learn about the concepts of design thinking, engage in creative problem solving, learn to use software and hardware and other tools in the library’s Tūhura HIVE Makerspace, and then apply these lessons to the creation of a board game centred around the theme of conservation.

This workshop is FREE. Space is limited to 15 participants. Click here to register. Nature Heroes: Board Game Creation Workshop is suitable for young creators aged 9-15.

  • Johnsonville Library, Tuesday 27 April to Saturday 1 May inclusive, 10.00am – 12.00pm

Paper Plane Cloudracers

Join us at Te Awe Library to bring your aeronautic dreams to life as paper planes! Learn new designs, construct your plane, then see how your design fares against our librarians in the paper plane aviation race of the century. All materials will be supplied.

Paper Plane Cloudracers is suitable for children aged 5+ with their caregivers.

  • Te Awe Library, Tuesday 20 April, 2.00 – 3.30pm

6 New children’s non fiction to read just time for spring

Katie

Spring is around the corner… almost. So why not spring on down to your local library and check out some new non fiction in our Junior Collection that can help you with your science homework, help you unleash your inner clothes designer and learn some weird, wonderful and sometimes gross facts from the latest Ripley’s Believe it or not series.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsI Can Make My Own Accessories

Eat you heart out, Christian Louboutin, Karen Walker and Dolce & Gabbana, You don’t have to shop for the latest fashion trends and break your budget to dress in style. This new book, I Can Make My Own Accessories is jam packed full of ideas for making your own fashion accessories! You will be able to make and customize unique, stylish jewelry, hair accessories, bags, belts, and much more. A great book to have on hand for the budding fashion designer.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsAll new Ripley’s Believe it or not : unlock the weird

Believe it or not, it’s back! Ripley’s has a 100% new book out on the weird, wonderful and wacky world records around the world. Come on down to the library and grab this book, where you can read all about how a monk walks on water, a woman that only eats sand and a baby cow born with five mouths. You have to read it to believe it!

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsUsborne Big Picture Atlas

With 15 big and beautifully illustrated maps for you to pore over, use this picture atlas to explore our fascinating world. Find landmarks, discover where different animals and people live around the world, and lots more.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsCollins Science Fascinating Facts

This book tells you all you need to know to become the next great scientist! From atoms to lightning, from android robots of the future right back to the start of life on Earth, you’ll learn all about the secrets of science. A brightly illustrated and engaging book, Science offers hours of reading pleasure and is also a great support for schoolwork and projects.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsElectricity

“A hands-on first science series that uses fun and practical activities to explore electricity, light and dark, materials and pushes and pulls.We use electricity all the time so it’s important children know how it works and where it comes from. Discover what an electric circuit is and why static electricity makes your hair stand on end. Using simple explanations and engaging photos, this book encourages children to think about how their senses work, while taking their first steps into scientific discovery.” –Publisher’s website.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsDid dinosaurs lay eggs and other questions and answers about prehistoric reptiles

Read this and find out all the answers to every question you have ever had about dinosaurs. Also goes into full detail of  different types of dinosaurs and reconstructs their habits and behaviour.

 

New non-fiction stuff to make

admin

The brilliant book of easy recipes

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to cook, but been too intimidated, then have no fear: there is a book for you.  There’s a great range of easy, delicious recipes for you to make, and most of them you should be able to make on your own, without needing a parent looking over your shoulder! Although asking for help isn’t a bad thing, of course. But you might want to keep everything you make to yourself, as there’s some really yummy treats in here, like marshmallow fingers and quesadillas.

 

The brilliant book of Easy crafts

Like the previous book in this series, this a simple book for crafters beginning in crafting. It’s perfect for younger children, as most of the projects aren’t really that difficult.  What’s great about this book is that chapters are arranged by types of project, so if you feel like making a mask or a puppet you can find what you want easily.

 

Rock star style: fun fashions you can sketch

Lights! Camera! Action! Learn how to draw the latest celebrity fashions with this cute book.  The fashions are wild but there’s plenty here to appeal to everyone. Each design is named after a genre or type of musician, from “cross-over artist” to “rock royalty.”  If you’re just starting out drawing, then you might find this book a little tricky, but it’s certainly good inspiration and something to challenge yourself. But this is a great book for any budding fashionista.

 

My first knitting book

Winter’s nearly over, so surely you don’t want to be spending your time stocking up on winter woolies, right? Luckily for the more DIY inclined among you, this book is packed full of cute things to knit like soft toys and Ipod covers.  Perhaps you might want to work on these projects during the summer so by the time winter rolls around again (we do live in Wellington, after all!) you’ll be ready to make hats and scarves for you and your friends.

 

 

Sewing for kids

Knitting not for you? Take a look at this book.  As well as having lots of fun projects (mostly toys and stuff for your room) it will teach you the basics  of both hand and machine sewing. It’s a great book for beginners, although there’s enough here to interest ardent sewers of all abilities.

 

 

Craft it up: Around the world

Travel around the world without leaving your house; this book has projects from many countries, and all of them cute and colourful. There’s a ton of different types of craft represented, so this is a good book if you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge.

 

 

New Non-Fiction: Music, Myths and Fashion

Katie

The History of Modern Music.

Interested in having a career in the music industry, then this is the book for you! Part of the series: The Music Scene, this book explores the changes in modern music though the post-war decades from rock n roll (Elvis Presley) and folk music (Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel) through to punk (The Sex Pistols), Indie pop (Green Day)and the enormous changes in technology today that have transformed the music world today. Also check out other book in the series: The Music Industry, Music, Fashion and Style and Performing Live.

 

 

 

 

 

Also check out

 

King Arthur.

King Arthur is the ultimate English hero. King of Camelot, Head of the Knights of the Round Table and wielder of the magic sword, Excalibur! Richard Brassey explores the history, the mystery and the legendary figures that populate the myths about King Arthur, including Morgan La Fay, Merlin and the evil Mordred. Richard Brassey’s unique gift for extracting truth from myth in a concise and insightful way makes this book the perfect introduction to King Arthur for young readers – and confused tourists!

 

 Learn to Speak Fashion.

Learn to Speak Fashion is about the ideas, skills and the fun behind thinking creatively about what you and others choose to wear. This book is the perfect guide to find tips on creating fashion from top designers, models and stylists. Also if you think you got what it takes to be a fashion designer? Then have a read of The Young Entrepreneurs Club: Fashion. All the information you need to becoming the next big thing in the fashion industry is in this exciting new read from the series: Young Entrepreneurs’ Club.

 

Basketball:  From tip-off to slam dunk – the essential guide.

A comprehensive guide on how to play basketball. You find in this exciting new read everything you need to know about how to get started, improve your playing style and hints and tips to help you master the sport.

 

 

 

 

 

Fairy Things to Stitch and Sew.

Love fairies? Love sewing?  Love arts and crafts? Then this is the book for you!, especially if you’re looking for ideas this year for Christmas gifts.  This enchanting book from the Usborne series is teeming with delightful projects which includes making fairy collages, bags, cards and pillows.

 

 

New Non Fiction for October: Animals, History and… Dancing.

Katie

Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders: Greeks.

Tony Robinson is back with more from Weird World of Wonders. Why the ancient Greeks were mad about olive oil? Who Pythagoras was? Why Alexander the Great named a city after his horse, Bucephalus? ?How the Greeks invented the first computer, vending machine and death-ray? You will find out all the answers to these questions and more in this action packed read.  If you enjoyed Tony Robinson’s last book on Ancient Egypt and the British, then you will love this one on British history.

 

 

 

My First Sewing Book: 35 easy and fun projects for children aged 7 years old + 
Love sewing? Then this is the book for you.You will find in this book 35 projects that will help you learn how to sew. All the instructions and cute step-by-step artworks are easy to follow; plus, each project has a grade so that you can start with easy sewing and move onto using more advanced stitches as you get better at it.

 

 

 

 
Monkeys by Claire Thorp.
Where do monkeys live? Can Monkeys tell lies? What can you do to help the Monkeys?

Find out the answers and more in this new exciting read. You will find out all you need to know about monkeys, including information on primates’ physical features, social habits, mental capabilities, and lives in their wild habitats.

 

 

 

 

 
Giraffes by Sarah Albee.
Find out all you need to know about giraffes, including answers to the trickiest questions, such as  how a giraffe drinks from the ground?  This book is also filled with valuable information, stunning photographs and little known facts, like a giraffe has seven bones in their neck and they can jump over objects as high as six feet.

 

 

 

 

 
The Book of Dance by Lorrie Mack.
The world of dance is yours to explore! Read all you need to know about dance and its history in this great and exciting book! This book allows you to discover the excitement of dance with all its magical rhythm, steps, costumes, music and dancers. You will also gain information on various types of dance, like ballet and ballroom. Also learn about popular productions from classical favorites, (The Nutcracker), Broadway (Singin’ in the Rain), Bollywood and even fresh dance styles that were inspired from the streets and clubs (Disco and Break dancing) and famous dancers of all time like Michael Jackson.

 

 

 
The Lego Book by Daniel Lipkowitz.
For all you Lego fans out there, this is the book to read. You find all the information you need to know about the history of the LEGO products. This book also  discusses the origins of the company, and the evolution of bricks, figures, play themes, and related products and features a time line that records the introduction of the first plastic bricks to the LEGO products of 2012. In addition this book allows you to explore LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Harry Potter, LEGO Toy story and much more.